Note: Helena Advertising and Promotions Commission sponsored this trip. All opinions are my own.

Yes, I did. I really did. I canoed the Mighty Mississippi. Well, a part of it anyway. And I survived.

I grew up within shouting distance of the Arkansas River and, for one of the few times in my life, I heeded the advice of my parents and grandparents. “Don’t ever, ever swim in the Arkansas.” The currents are strong. They are tricky and deceiving. It just wasn’t a play place.

The Mississippi River was bigger. And it was definitely stronger. The warnings about never, ever even THINK about putting myself in those muddy waters were felt before they were spoken.

My momma didn’t raise no fool.

Except this time I ignored those warnings that kept playing around in my memory and did it. I got into the Algonquin Misi-Zibi, the Old Mississip of Huckleberry Fin, Kern and Hammerstein’s Ol Man River.   At least my foot did. And in the shades of evening under the amber setting sun while basking in the glow of driftwood-fueled flames I smiled and laughed with fellow Arkansas Women Bloggers and Mississippi river men, more alike than different.

There might have been a murmur of the Gullah spiritual “Kumbayah”.

And I can’t wait to do it all over again. And you should, too.

Note: Many thanks to John Ruskey (Driftwood Johnny) of Quapaw Canoe Company in Helena, Arkansas who has probably canoed the length of the river for creating memories and for telling me to keep on paddling.  On the Mississippi River.  In a Canoe.

Quapaw Canoe Company
291 Sunflower Avenue
Clarksdale, MS 38614
(662) 627-4070 cell: 902-7841www.island63.com